New Delhi : Senior leaders of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya and the A’chik Literature Society (Garo) on Friday apprised Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on the long-pending demand to incorporate the Garo language into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The delegation was led by former Union Minister and lone NPP member in the Lok Sabha, Agatha K Sangma. She was accompanied by Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas Ampang Sangma, Cabinet Minister Marcuise N Marak, A’chik Literature Society (Garo) President, Dr. Caroline R. Marak.
“We had a fruitful discussion regarding the inclusion of the Garo Language in the list of demands for recognition under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution,” the Assembly Speaker said after the meeting.
NPP Lok Sabha member Agatha Sangma said, “There has been a public demand to include Garo language in the Eighth Schedule. The MHA officials have agreed to include Garo in the official waitlist of languages based on the request of the delegation, this paves the way for Eighth Schedule inclusion.”
In September 2018, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution urging the Central Government to include both Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“Today’s meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs officials marks a critical step forward in fulfilling this long-standing demand,” Agatha said.
Garo is spoken in five districts of Meghalaya, as well as in certain regions of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills where a substantial population of Garos resides.
Currently, there are 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Khasi and Garo languages were recognised and notified as Associate Official Languages of the state after the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, received the assent of the governor on May 1, 2005.
“This endeavor signifies a significant development in the preservation and recognition of linguistic diversity in the state, a cause that has garnered considerable attention and support,” Agatha said.
